Page 78 of A Night To Remember

“So where do you two stand?”

“I don’t know. I really don’t know.”

That night as Charlie was tucking Kristy in, she asked, “Can I see Daddy soon?”

“Sure. We can see him tomorrow.” Charlie knelt to kiss Kristy’s cheek.

“You haveta kiss Baby too,” Kristy ordered, holding up her doll. Charlie chuckled softly, bending over to kiss the doll held so tightly in Kristy’s arms. Heaven forbid if she forgot to kiss Kristy’s favorite toy. Charlie suspected Kristy loved her doll so much because it had come from her daddy.

“Mommy?”

“Yes, sweetie?”

“I miss Daddy.”

“I miss him, too,” Charlie answered truthfully.

“Can he come live with us?” Kristy asked innocently.

“I don’t know but I hope so. I would like that very much actually. Mommy will try her best to make it happen, okay?”

Kristy nodded her head, seeming to accept this answer. “Mommy, the man wanted me to tell you somethin’.”

Charlie stiffened. Was Paul right here with him at this very moment? “Is he here now?”

“No. He had to go home.”

“Where is his home?”

“Heaven.”

Charlie’s eyes misted with tears. She had always known Paul would end up there, but it was nice to have her suspicions confirmed. “What did he say, honey?”

“He said ‘be happy, peanut’,” Kristy giggled. If Charlie had doubts before, she had absolutely no doubt in her mind that she had a special guardian angel. She waited next to Kristy until she fell asleep. Charlie walked out on the patio and looked heavenward.

“Thank you, Paul.” Tears coursed down her cheeks. He had kept his promise to her.

Jake was released from the hospital the following week. His parents picked him up. He was anxious to get back to work. There were so many loose ends he had to tie up. At least if he was working he could forget about how much he loved Charlie and how little she loved him. It tore him apart, to think she only wanted him for sex. If he could, he would sever all ties with her so he could move on with his life, but he had his daughter to think of.

He loved Kristy more than life itself and would always be in her life, but it would be tough dealing with Charlie and pretending an indifference toward her he didn’t feel. On the car ride home from the hospital, he stared aimlessly out the window.

“Jake, are you okay, honey? You’ve been awful quiet?” his mother asked.

“I’m fine. I’m just thinking about work. I have a lot of stuff to do at the office and I was hoping to go in tomorrow,” he replied. That wasn’t exactly a lie. He had been thinking about work.

“Are you crazy, son?” his father roared from the driver’s seat.

“No. I just have a lot of stuff to attend to.”

“There is no way we’re letting you go back into work so soon after your accident. We’ve already discussed this; you’re going to convalesce at our place until the doctor says you can go back to work,” his mother stated firmly. Her tone suggested the subject wasn’t up for discussion, but Jake wasn’t going to let the conversation end.

“Mom, my employees depend on me. I have some important meetings scheduled.”

“Don’t argue with your mother, Jake. I’m sure Steve is capable of handling things for you while you’re out,” Bill interjected.

Jake sighed. He felt like he was ten years old again. “What the heck am I supposed to do? I can’t stand staying still for very long.”

“Steve was nice enough to bring your laptop to us. You can use that, as long as you don’t overdo things, and we’re throwing a party for you tomorrow. A sort of welcome home celebration,” Moira answered.

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